Tube-closing machine.



INVENTORS Leon Fez/LZ Fran/Ho/auer BY www@ W ATTORNEY YH: NvRms PETsRs co.. wAsmNcraN. v c.

WITNESSES' /f/"d 7 L 1. wh M w m v mi, 0, H l@ m \b M W n QN D Q* E mf mim. N. m m u im. ,@mm A n 4.. y I P m m m I Q M m G P A n w m M n A .NQ n... nNu m QR lk. @Q .QN mm Q aa s .l L L .0 l 1| HiHNflln/J PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

L. PB VAL-E F. HOFBAUBR.

TUBE CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI. 21. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTORSl Zeonevl nl: van

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No. 825,308. PATENTED JULY l0, 1906.

' L. FEVAL & I'. HOPBAU-ER.

TUBE CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTORS. Zeon Fcival razf/ojfauef BY ATTOR Y .rus NaRRls PETERS co.. wasnmcnm, n. a

"tinnen sTATeas PATENT oraison.

LEON F EVAL, OF NEWARK, AND FRANK HOFBAUER, OF IEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO CONSOLIDATED FRUIT JAR COMPANY, OF NEW' BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TUBE-CLOSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Be it known that we, LEON FEvAL, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Newark, and FRANK HOFBAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Closing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for effecting the substantially permanent closure of one end of collapsible containers such as are employed to hold semifluid or viscous material, of which the oil-pigments used by artists, various kinds of tooth-paste, self-hardening compounds of the repair of punctured pneumatic tires, and certain medicinal salves or ointments are examples. These containers are usually of substantially cylindrical configuration, having an apertured neck at one end thereof provided with a removable cap, the other end being flattened and folded one or more times upon itself to provide the simplest and cheapest form of seal. The tube material is generally thin, soft, inelastic metal which will yield readily to comparatively slight pressure, whereby the desired quantity of the contents of the tube may be forced through the apertured neck directly upon the point or place of application. These tubes are filled for the market not through the small aperture in the neck thereof, but through the bottom7 prior to closing. After being filled the edges of the bottom are pressed together and this double layer folded upon itself.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a machine for flattening and folding these tube ends whereby this work may be accomplished much more rapidly and efliciently than is possible by hand.

To this end our invention consists generally in novel means for bringing the edges of an open tube end together and folding the resultant double layer upon itself.

Our invention further consists in a series of two or more folders, in novel means for compressing and flattening the folded portions to insure permanency and impermeability, and in means for returning the operative mechanisms to their initial positions of adjustments for the next operation.

Our invention further consists in the novel form of tube-container to hold and control the movement of the tube during the folding operations and in the means for manipulating said tube-container to eHect the desired coperation of movement with the folding devices. y

Our invention further consists in the various details of construction, configuration, arrangement, and coperation of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Our invention Will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the plate providing a track for the member which controls movement of the tube-holder to insure roper and coperative movement thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical section substantially on the line 4i 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are similar detail views of the various successive steps of 'the folding operations. Fig. 10 is a view of the finished product. Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the folding devices hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 12 refers to a substantially rectangular metallic supporting-frame having arms 13 and 14 projecting substantially rectangularly to the plane of said frame from the upper corners thereof. These arms are preferably provided with apertures 15 and 16, respectively, whereby they may be secured, by means of ordinary screws, to the top of a table, bench, shelf, or the like, the frame 12 being disposed in a substantially vertical position against the edge of the horizontal support. Brackets 17 and 18, one at each of the upper corners of said frame, provide supports for the preferably cylindrical rod 19, which is fixed within said brackets, while similar brackets 20 and 21, one at each of the lower corners, of said frame, are apertured to re- IOO ceive the rod 22, which slides freely therethrough and which is therefore of greater length than the rod 19.

Slidable on the rod 19 and fixed to the rod 2, and therefore having a limited horizontal reciprocating movement with reference to said frame, is a carriage comprising the substantially vertical members 23 and 24, braced near the lower extremities thereof by the member 25 and at the top by the member 26, both of which braces are preferably integral with the members 23 and 24. These vertical members are suitably apertured near the upper ends thereof to loosely receive and slide freely upon the rod 19, the lower ends thereof being similarly apertured to receive the rod 22, which, however, is secured thereto by means of the xed collars 27 and 28 for the member 23 and 29 and 30 for the member 24. Anoperating-lever 31 is suitably pivoted at 32 to the lower member of the frame 12 and is preferably provided with a handle or grip 33. Pivotally connected to the lever 31 at 34 and similarly to the upper end of the member 24 of the carriage 'at 35 is the connectingrod 36, whereby movement of said lever will effect simultaneous movement of the carriage as controlled by its guides.

Suspended from the collars 28 and 30 by arms or braces 37 and-37, respectively, which are preferably integral with said collars and which are preferably provided with securing disks or plates 38 and 39, respectively, to insure a rigid structure, is the plate 40, which, as will be apparent, moves with and forms a part of the carriage. The under side of this plate (see Fig. 3) is provided with the grooves or guideways 41 and 42, which are parallel throughout the greater portion of their lengths, merging or meeting at both extremities. The dividing ridge 43 therebetween terminates at each end in a spring-pressed pivoted extension 44 and 45, constituting automatic switches, whereby upon longitudinal reciprocation of said plate a stationary pin or member 46 within said grooves will follow the groove 41 during movement of said plate in one direction and return through the groove 42. To the pin or member 46 and its support will thus be imparted upon reciprocation of the plate a lateral reciprocating movement with predetermined periods of rest.

A bracket 47, integral with or suitably secured to the lower bar or brace of the frame 12, has a forwardly-projecting arm 48, to the end of which is pivoted the link 49. A member 50 has pivotal connection with the other end of said link and is preferably provided with a cylindrical portion 51, loosely fitting and slidable within a suitable aperture in the vertical portion of the bracket 47. The pin 46 is fixed upon the member 50, and the link 49 is provided with a clamping-collar 51 to permit vertical adjustment of the rod 52 therein, at the upper extremity of which is the tube-holder 53, hereinafter more fully described. It will thus be apparent that reciprocation of the plate 40 will effect, through the mechanism described, reciprocation of the tube-holder 53 transversely thereto with ,I periods of rest for purposes hereinafter set forth.

To effect the closing or folding operation, l employ two cooperating mechanisms. One thereof includes the arm 54, having a limited pivotal movement upon a stud 55, mounted upon the frame 12. Mounted upon this arm is the laterally-projecting bracket 56, providing with said arm well-braced bearings for the short shaft 57, individual movement of which is controlled by the crank 58, secured to one end thereof and carrying the pin 59. The shaft is preferably provided with a flat face to which is secured, by means of screws or the like, the curved plate or lip 60, which on account of its hereinafter-described function may be termed an abutment This plate or abutment should be substantially of the configuration shown, being thickest where horizontally disposed and secured to said shaft and gradually curving and tapering to the upturned edge 61. It will be apparent that this plate or abutment 60 has two independent movements, one a bodily movement with the arm 54 and the other a rotary movement upon the shaft 57 controlled by the crank 58 in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter described.

Mounted in the brace or member 26 of the carriage is the series of preferably three studs 62, l63, and 64. These studs are not in alinement, the first two, 62 and 63, thereof being in a horizontal plane, and the third, 64, being slightly lower in elevation. Abrace 65, common to all of said studs, is suitably secured to the ends thereof tov augment their strength and rigidity. These studs carry mechanisms identical in construction and operation, wherefore a detailed description of one will suffice for all. The first of these mechanisms, which we have identified by the letter A, isfdesigned to collapse and flatten the round open end of the tube and fold the resultant double layer once upon itself. This mechanism, as best shown in Fig. 11, comprises a yoke-shaped member having spreading arms or branches 66 and 67, through each of which the stud 62 extends to permit of a limited rotary movement of said yoke upon said stud. Each of these studs is provided at or near its middle portion (although they may extend, if desired, the entire distance between the branches 66 and 67) with flat faces 68 and 69, forming an angle slightly less than ninety degrees bisected by a vertical plane through the axis of the stud. A spring-pressed plunger 70, suitably mounted in each yoke, has a fiat extremity adapted to impinge against the stud, whereby said yoke is yieldingly withheld opposite one of said flat faces, toward which position it is slightly spring-pressed until revolved by overcoming force to carry the plunger 70 beyond the apex of the angle formed by the intersecting IOO IIC

fiat faces, whereupon said ,yoke is subsequently slightly spring-pressed, and in a similar manner to a position opposite to the other flat face. Positive stops 7l and 72 may be provided to limit rotary movement in either direction beyond the perpendicular to each of the flat faces. The function of this plunger is to provide a force offering a yielding resistance to rotary movement of said yoke until a certain point has been reached, after which it serves itself to carry said yoke to the positive limit of movement. The angle formed by said flat faces may be termed a dead-center, from either side of which said yoke is spring-pressed to one or the other position, so that overcoming force is only required to carry said yoke to a point just beyond this dead center, whereupon the spring-pressure is reversed in direction of application, so to speak, and provide for continuance of movement of said yoke to its other position. It will be apparent that each yoke has two independent movements, one a bodily movement with the carriage and the other rotary about the studs.

The bodily movement of the plate or abutment with the arm 54 is of course merely a slight reciprocation in a substantially vertical plane. The other movement of said plate or abutment is more complex and is provided by the peculiar configuration of the elongated slots 73 in the plate 74, se`

cured in any suitable manner to the carriage, preferably to the members 23 and 24 thereof. The pin 59 at the end of the crank-arm 5S extends into this slot 7 3, and it will be apparent that variations from the horizontal in the guideway provided by said slot will correspondingly depress or elevate said pin as the plate 74 moves with the carriage in one direction or the other. Obviously vertical movement of this pin 59 will through the crank 5S effect a corresponding rotation of the short shaft 57, the purpose of which rotation is to effect slight lateral variations in the adjustment or position of the edge 61 of the plate or abutment 60, vertical adjustment of which is determined and controlled by proper movement of the arm 54. This arm 54 is provided with an elongated slot 75 of similarly irregular course or configuration, within which rides or travels the pin 76, mounted upon the bracket 77, integral with or suitably secured to the member 24 of the carriage. This pin 76 serves to support the free extremity of the arm 54 and cooperates with the slot 75 upon movement of the carriage to determine and control vertical pivotal movement of said arm and therewith the plate or abutment 60. It will be apparent that the slots 7 3 and 75 may be made to cooperate to produce almost any properlytimed movement and adjustment of the edge 61 of the plate or abutment 60 with predelin a substantially vertical position.

termined periods of rest in a substantially rigid condition.

Mounted in the ends of both branches 66 and 67 of each yoke below the stud 62, parallel thereto and to each other, is the pair of rods 7S and 7 9, the axes of which are in the same horizontal plane when said yoke is then these yokes are in the position of adjustment indicated in Fig. l, upon the movement of carriage the rod 78 will clear the edge 61 of the plate or abutment 60, which is, however, directly in the path of movement of the rod 79, which is engaged by the plate 60, and serves to rotate said yoke against initial yielding spring-pressure to its oppositely-inclined position. This rotation raises the rod 79 above and clear of the plate 60, depressing the rod 7S a corresponding distance. The yokes or folding devices B and C are similarly and successively manipulated, each accomplishing certain desired results, as hereinafter described, the rods 7S, 78', and 78 merely serving to engage the plate 60 upon the return or idle stroke of the operatinglever and return cach of said yokes or folding devices to its original position.

The holder 53 for the tubes to be operated upon is of preferably the form of a flattened cup removable from the supporting-rod 52, whereby different sizes of holders may be employed to accommodate tubes of different diameters. The smaller interior dimension of this holder should be approximately equal to the exterior diameter of the tube, the projecting end of which has a limited freedom of movement in the direction of the movement of the carriage, for which the greater dimension of the cup provides. This holder should taper, as shown, to a bottom portion of a size to fit reasonably snugly the capped extremity of the tube.

As hereinbefore suggested, each tube is inverted and filled through the bottom prior to closure thereof in the manner this invention is designed to effect. After being filled the open tube is placed cap downward in the tube-holder 55, which is then in the position indicated in Fig. 4, and therefore readily accessible. The positions of carriage and operating-lever at this time is best illustrated in Fig. 1, which also shows the positions of the three folding devices A, B, and C. The first effect of movement of the operating-lever 31, and therewith the carriage, is the rearwardly-directed longitudinal movement of the member 50, due to the movement of the plate 40, forcing the pin 46' laterally thereto by means of the groove 41. This movement of the member 5() operates, through the link 49, to swing the tube-holder 55 inwardly, bringing the open tube therein to a substantially vertical position, with the extremity thereof between the plate or abutment 6() and the folding device A. There is obviously no further movement of the tube-holder until the pin 46 reaches the other end of the plate 40, passing into the groove 42 just prior to the return stroke and subsequent to completion of all folding operations.

During initial movement of the carriage and the above-described adjustment of the open tube the pins 59 and 76 are riding in the substantially horizontal portions 80 and 81, respectively, of the slots 73 and 7 5, and there is consequently no movement of the plate or abutment 60, adjacent to which is the round open end of the tubeto be closed. Upon continued movement of the carriage the rod 78 engages or impinges against the tube end, which is first iiattened against the edge 6l of the curved plate 60, leaving possibly oneeighth of an inch thereof projecting above said edge, which is partially bent thereover by the rod 78, the rod 79 completing the attening operation. (See Fig. 5.) Further movement of the carriage, as described, rotates the folding device A tothe position indicated in Fig. 6, the rod 78 carrying the partially-bent portion of the tube back against the other side of the plate 60, the edge of which is within the fold. The rod 79 is now clear of the plate and the tube layers folded thereover, and at this point the pins 59 and 76 reach the downwardly-deflected portion 82 of the slot 73 and the upwardlydeiiected portion 83 ofthe slot 75, respectively. Continued movement of said carriage thereforev results in the withdrawal of theedge of the plate 60 from the fold in the tube, due to downward movement of the arm v54, together with a slight lateral movement of said edge, to insure dislodgment and to carry the tube end beyond the path of said edge during subsequent upward movement thereof. Reaching the upwardly-inclined portion 84 of the slot 73 and the downwardly-inclined portion 85 of the slot 75, respectively, the pins 59 and 76 serve to return the Vplate 60 to substantially its initial position, now between the folding devices A and B, and with the loosely-folded end of the tube between said plate and the rod 7 9 of the device B.

The simple raising and lowering of the arm 54 would not suflice for the above-described operation. If raised without independent movement of the plate or abutment 60. the edge 6l thereof would obviously be returned into the fold from which it has just been withdrawn. It is therefore desirable to swing the plate 60 forwardly just prior to again raising said arm, which we accomplish by making the downwardly-defiected portion 82 of the slot-7 3 slightly shorter in length than lthe upwardly-deflected portion 83 of the slot 7 5, whereby the pin 59 will be raised prior to upward movement of the arm 54. This opble of being employed as a folder if mounted in a slightly-lower position, is a compressing device. A space has been left between the two double layers by the withdrawal of the edge 61 of the plate 60, which is now closed by compression of the fold between the rod 79 of the device B and the plate 60. (See Fig. 7.) ing this operation, the pins 59 and 76 following the substantially horizontal portions 86 and 87 of the slots 73 and 75, respectively. Similar rotation of the device B having served to raise the rod 79 clear of the plate 60 said plate is, through operation of the pins 59 and 76 in the corresponding downwardlyinclined portion 88 of the slot 73 and the upwardly-inclined portion 89 of the slot 7 5, respectively, slightly depressed in practice about one-eighth of an inch, whereby the once-folded end of the tube projects slightly above the edge of said plate just as the flattened end did prior to the first folding operation. The folding device C then operates, in a manner precisely similar to that of the folding device A, to fold the once-folded tube end again upon itself with the edge of the plate 60 similarly within the fold. The upwardly-deflected portion 90 of the slot 73 and the downwardly-deflected portion 91 of the slot now operate through the pins 59 and 76, respectively, to withdraw said plate, just as it was similarly withdrawn subsequent to the first folding operation, The final downwardly-deflected portion 92 of the slot 73 and the final upwardly-deflected portion of the slot 75 operate through the pins to return the plate after withdrawal to the position indicated in Fig. 9, where it is held stationary during compression of the double fold between said plate and they arm 94, which is carried by and projects forwardly from the member 26 of the carriage.

Forward movement of the carriage is here completely arrested, and at this point the pin 46 has passed from the groove 41 of the plate 40 into the groove 42. During the return movement of the carriage the folded tube end is first released, and immediately theref after the pin 46 is, through movement of the plate 40, carried outwardly to return the tubeholder 55 to its initial position for ready removal of the closed tube therein and for the insertion of another open tube for a repetition of the folding operations.

It will be apparent that while we have shown and described a hand-operated machine it may be readily connected to a source The plate 60 is held stationary durz IOS TTO

of power, requiring manual labor only in the placing of the open tubes and the removal of the old ones.

Many modifications of the details of construction and operation of ourimproved tubeclosing machine will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, 'and we therefore do not desire to limit our invention to the specific construction and operation herein shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of means for flattening the open end of a tube and folding the flattened material upon itself in one operation, and means for compressing the fold.

2. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of means forflattening the open end of a tube and folding the flattened material upon itself in one operation, similar means for repeating the folding operation and means for compressing the overlying layers of tube material.

3. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of means for flattening the open end of a tube, means for folding the flattened material successively upon itself, each fold by a single operation, and means for compressing the overlying layers after each folding operation.

4. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, and a traveling mechanism adapted in passing said abutment to flatten and fold the open end of a tube interposed therebetween and compress the folded layers.

5. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, and a traveling mechanism adapted in passing said abutment to flatten and fold the open end of a tube' interposed therebetween, said abutinents being automatically readjustable to compress the fold without interruption of movement.

6. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, and a traveling mechanism adapted in passing said abutment to flatten and fold the open end of a tube interposed therebetween, repeat the folding operation and compress the folded layers without interruption of movement.

7. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, and a traveling mechanism adapted in passing said abutment to flatten and fold the open end of a tube interposed therebetween, compress the fold and repeat the folding and compressing operations without interruption of movement.

8. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of two elements having coperative operation to flatten and fold upon itself the open end of a tube and repeat the folding operation, and means for automatically readjusting parts of the same elements to compress the folded layers after each folding operation.

9. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, and a traveling carriage having a reciprocating movement across said abutment and provided with means cooperating with said abutment to flatten and fold the open end of a tube, trailing means to repeat the folding operation and final means for flattening the folded layers.

10. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, and a traveling carriage having reciprocating movement across said abutment and provided with means for flattening and folding the open end of a tube and trailing means for repeating the folding operation without interruption of movement of said carriage.

11. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment, a traveling carriage having reciprocating movement across said abutment and provided with means for flattening and folding the open end of a tube and repeating the folding operation during the forward stroke of said carriage and without interruption of movement, means for finally compressing the double fold, and means for automatically readjusting the carriage mechanism for another complete operation upon the return stroke of said carriage.

12. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an abutment and a traveling mechanism coperating therewith to flatten the open end of a tube thereagainst and fold the flattened material upon itself in one operation.

13. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an edged plate, means for flattening the open end of a tube thereagainst and folding the flattened material thereover, means for withdrawing said plate from the fold, and means for compressing the overlying layers.

14. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an edged plate, means for flattening the open end of a tube thereagainst and folding the flattened material thereover, means for withdrawing said plate from the fold, means for compressing the overlying layers, and means for repeating the folding and compressing operations.

15. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with a substantially stationary member, of a carriage provided with means coperating -with said member to flatten the open end of a tube thereagainst, fold the flattened material upon itself and compress the overlying layers. e

16. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an edged plate, of a traveling carriage provided with a series of successivelyarranged devices coperating with said plate to flatten the open end of a tube thereagainst,

IOO

IIO

'erating with said member to flatten the open end of a tube and successively fold and compress the flattened material upon itself. l 19. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of an edged plate, a carriage provided with means for flattening the open end of a tube against said plate and folding the nattened material thereover, means for withdrawing said plate from the fold and returning the same to one side of the folded tube end, and means for compressing the overlying layers of tube material against said plate.

20. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an edged plate, of acarriage provided with means for flattening the open end of a tube against said plate and folding the flattened material thereover, means for withdrawingsaid plate from within the fold and returning the same to one side thereof, means for compressing the folded material against said plate, and means for interdependently timing movements of said plate and carriage.

2l. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an edged plate, of a traveling carriage provided with means for flattening the open end of a tube against said plate and folding the flattened material over the edge thereof, means for withdrawing said plate from within the fold and returning the same to one side thereof, means for compressing the folded material againstsaid plate, means for repeating thefolding and compressing operations, and means for interdependently timing movements of said plate and carriage..

22. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an abutment, of traveling means cooperating therewith to flatten the open end of a tubeand fold the flattened material upon itself, said abutment being mounted upon a movable support and having movement therewith and independently thereof.

23. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an abutment, of a traveling carriage provided with means cooperating with said abutment'to flatten the open end of a tube and fold the attened material upon itself, said abutment being mounted upon a `movable support and having movement independently thereof, movement of said support and independent movement of said abutment being both automatically controlled by movement of said carriage.

nation, with an abutment and atraveling carriage provided with cooperative folding mechanism, of a movable support for said abutment, means upon said carriage for automatically moving and timing movement of said support, and means for automatically moving and timing movement of said abutment independently of said support.

25. In a tube-closing machine, the vcombination, with an abutment and a traveling carriage provided with cooperative folding mechanism, of a swinging arm carrying said abutment, means upon said carriage for automatically moving and timing movement of said arm, and means for automatically moving and timing movement of said abutment independently of said arm.

26. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an abutment and a traveling carriage provided with cooperative folding mechanism, of a reciprocating support for said abutment, a track of suitable configuration upon said support, a member upon said carriage cooperating with said track to automatically reciprocate and properly time reciprocation of said support, and means for automatically moving and timing movement of said abutment independently of said support.

27. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an abutment and a traveling carriage provided with cooperative folding mechanism, of a vertically-reciprocating support for said abutment, a horizontally-disposed track of suitable configuration upon said support, a member on said carriage cooperating with said track to automatically reciprocate and properly time vertical reciprocation of said support, and means for horizontally reciprocating and automatically timing horizontal reciprocation of said abutment independently of said support.

2S. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, vwith an abutment and a traveling carriage provided with cooperative folding mechanism, of a vertically-reciprocating support for. said abutment, a horizontally-disposed track of suitable configuration upon said suppOrtLamember on said carriage cooperating with said track to automatically effect and properly time said vertical reciprocation, a substantially similar track upon said carriage, and meansrinterposed between said abutment and said last-mentioned track to horizontally reciprocate and properly time horizontal reciprocation of said abutment independently of its vertical reciprocation with said support.

29. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an abutment and a traveling mechanism cooperating therewith to flatten and fold the open end of a tube interposed therebetween, of means for holding a tube with its open end in position to be operated IOO IIO

'upon by said mechanism, said means being automatically movable to and from-operative position.

30. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with an abutment and a traveling mechanism eoperating therewith to flatten and fold the open end of a tube interposed therebetween, of means for holding a tube with its open end in position to be operated upon by said mechanism, said means being movable to and from operative position and such movement being automatically controlled by movement of said traveling` mechanism.

31. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of a pivoted arm and a traveling cairiage, said arm carrying a member presenting a flat face to the direction of movement of said carriage, and said carriage being provided with means coperating with said member to flatten, fold and compress the end of a tube interposed therebetween.

32. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of a pivoted arm and a traveling carriage, said arm carrying a member normally presenting a flat face to the direction of movement of said carriage and being itself movable independently of said arm, and said carriage being provided with means cooperating with said member to ilatten an open tube end interposed therebetween and fold the flattened material upon itself.

33. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of a movable support, an edged member thereon having movement therewith and independently thereof,- a traveling carriage provided with means for flattening the open end of a tube against said member and folding the flattened material over the edge thereof, means for lowering said support to withdraw said member from the fold, means for' independently moving said member in the direction of movement of said carriage, means for raising said support, and means for compressing the folded tube material against said member.

34. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of a movable support, an edged member thereon having movement therewith and independently thereof, a traveling carriage provided with means for flattening the open end of a tube against said member and folding the flattened material over the edge thereof, means for lowering said support, means for independently moving said member clear of the loose fold, means for raising said support, means for compressing the folded material against said member, and means for interdependently timing the above operations.

35. In a tube-closing machine, the combination of a movable support, an edged member thereon having movement independently thereof, a traveling carriage provided with devices for flattening the open end of a tube against said member and folding the flattened material over the edge thereof, means for lowering said support, means for independently moving said member clear of the loose fold, means for raising said support to substantially its original position, means for compressing the folded material against said member, means for repeating the above operations, and means for interdependently timing movements of said support, member and carriage.

36. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with a traveling support and a frame mounted for limited rotary movement thereon and carrying two members, of a substantially stationary body in the path of movement of one of said members, whereby upon engagement between said body and member said frame will be rotated and thereby raise said member clear of said body.

37. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with a traveling support, of a frame mounted for limited rotary movement thereon, said frame being spring-pressed from a position perpendicular to the direction of movement of said support to each of opposite positions of inclination, and a substantially stationary body presenting an edged face to the direction and in the path of movement of a yielding portion of said frame.

3S. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with a traveling support, of a frame mounted for limited rotary movement thereon and carrying two operating members, said frame being spring-pressed from a position perpendicular to the direction of movement of said support to each of opposite positions of inclination, and a substantially stationary body presenting an edged face to the direction and in the `path of movement of one of said operating members, whereby upon engagement between said body and member said frame will be rotated to its opposite position of inclination, thereby raising said engaged member clear of said body and correspondingly depressing the other operating member.

39. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with, a traveling support, of a series of frames mounted for independent, limited, rotary movement thereon, each frame being spring-pressed from a position perpendicular to the direction of movement of said support to each of opposite positions of inclination, and a substantially stationary body presenting an edged face to the direction and in the path of movement of a yielding portion of each frame.

40. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with a traveling support, of a series of frames mounted for independent, limited, rotary movement thereon, each frame carrying two operating members and being springpressed from a position perpendicular to the IOO IIO

direction of movement of said support to each of opposite positions of inclination., and asubstantially stationary body presenting an edged face to the direction and in the path of movement of one of said operating members on each frame, whereby upon engagement between said body and member each frame will be rotated in succession to its opposite position of inclination.

4l. In a tube-closing machine, the combination, with a traveling support, of a series of :trames mounted for independent, limited, rotary movement thereon, each frame carrying two operating members and being springpressed from a position perpendicular to the direction of movement of said support to each of opposite positions of inclination, a body for automatically withdrawing and returning said body from and to its operative position.

In testimony of the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

LEON FEVAL. FRANK HOFBAUER.

Witnesses:

Jol-1N J. FRED, E. A. GILDERsoN. 

